Induction of differentiation of the human monoblastic cell line U-937 in vitro by several physiologic and nonphysiologic inducers is accompanied by a rapid decrease in expression of MYC, the endogenous human myc protooncogene. To investigate whether this reduction is a prerequisite for terminal differentiation, we introduced a constitutively expressed v-myc gene into U-937 cells. The results show that constitutive expression of an avian v-myc oncogene does not interfere with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-induced differentiation of U-937 cells early after stimulation. However, after 24 hr the differentiation process is reversed, as judged by a full recovery of the proliferative capacity and reexpression of the immature phenotype, within the next 2-4 days. We conclude that the terminal stage of macrophage differentiation is inhibited in U-937 cells constitutively expressing a v-myc oncogene.

The monoblastic cell line U-937 was cultured in the presence of C-ethyl beta-D-xyloside (E-xyl), hexyl beta-D-thioxyloside (HX-xyl), p-nitrophenyl beta-D-xyloside, phenyl beta-D-xyloside or phenyl alpha-D-xyloside. All of the beta-D-xylosides inhibited proliferation, but HX-xyl was by far the most efficient, and had a maximum effect at 1 mM concentration. The inhibitory effect of HX-xyl could be reversed; after washing, the HX-xyl-treated cells proliferated with a pattern similar to that of control cells. For more detailed analysis of the effects of beta-D-xylosides on cell proliferation and chondroitin sulphate (CS)/chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan (CSPG) structure, a comparison between the effects of E-xyl and HX-xyl was made. Treating the cells with 1 mM-HX-xyl resulted in a large increase in CS synthesis, whereas 1 mM-E-xyl had only minor effects on the rate of PG/glycosaminoglycan synthesis. Sepharose CL-6B gel chromatography of medium and cell fractions from 35S-labelled cells revealed that HX-xyl treatment resulted in the expression of only free CS chains, whereas E-xyl exposure leads to the synthesis of both large and small CSPGs, as well as some free CS chains. The expression of elevated levels of free CS chains was clearly correlated to the inhibition of proliferation. The proliferation of U-937-4, a clone of U-937 synthesizing ten times more CSPG/CS than the parent line, was equally inhibited by HX-xyl treatment. With this clone, however, there was no stimulation of CS synthesis after xyloside exposure, indicating that the elevated level of CS evident after xyloside treatment of the parent cell line is not causing the inhibition of proliferation. Furthermore, the biosynthesis of hyaluronate was shown not to be implicated in the xyloside-induced decrease in proliferation. The inhibition of proliferation observed in the presence of 1 mM-HX-xyl did not lead to differentiation of the cells into macrophage-like cells, as is observed when the cells are cultured in the presence of phorbol esters, agents also known to inhibit proliferation of U-937 cells.

The established human histiocytic lymphoma cell line U-937 spontaneously produced a factor with biological activity similar to that ascribed to interleukin 1 (IL 1). Actually, supernatants from U-937 cells promoted proliferation of thymocytes initiated by concanavalin A (Con A) and replaced the requirement of accessory cells for activation of highly purified circulating T lymphocytes induced by Con A. Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) significantly increased the titers of the helper factor produced by U-937 cells as compared to that secreted by non-PMA-treated U-937 cells or PMA-stimulated P388D1 murine macrophage tumor cells. Generally U-937 cells did not secrete detectable IL 1 activity during the first 24-48 h of culture. However, after this initial period the level of IL 1 activity increased and reached a maximum at 5-6 days of culture. Finally, the helper factor released by U-937 cells had an apparent mol. wt. of 12000-15000 as determined by Sephadex G-100 chromatography and lacked interleukin 2 activity as shown by its inability to support growth of IL 2-addicted T cell lines. To our knowledge this is the first report of an established human cell line capable of producing IL 1.

The thromboplastin synthesis of the human monocytoid cell line U-937 and its two subclones designated U-937-3 and U-937-4 has been studied. U-937-4 seems by several functional criteria to represent a more advanced stage of monocyte differentiation than the original U-937. U-937-3 appears to be arrested at an even more immature stage than the original population. The basal thromboplastin activity was higher in U-937-4 than in U-937-3 or U-937 cells (7.0 +/- 1.9 (SEM), 1.0 +/- 0.2 and 1.6 +/- 0.6 units/mg protein, respectively) although not as high as in human normal monocytes (14.1 +/- 2.4). The thromboplastic expression of the two clones was maximal when cells were in logarithmic growth. Both clones responded with a weak to moderate thromboplastin synthesis upon addition of stimulants like phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), immune complexes or endotoxin. Thromboplastin production was also potentiated in the presence of lymphocytes. The supporting effect of lymphocytes was strong in the case of U-937-3 as well as in U-937 cells, but less pronounced in U-937-4 cells as it also is in human monocytes. The thromboplastin response after PHA stimulation was more rapid in U-937-4 cells (maximal after 4-8 h) than in U-937 or U-937-3 cells (12-16 h). Human monocytes also responds quickly to PHA (maximally 4 h). Total phospholipid content and the relative distribution of individual phospholipids were essentially similar in U-937-3, U-937-4 and U-937. With regard to thromboplastin production, U-937-4 cells seem to be more monocyte-like than the more immature cells U-937-3 and U-937. It is concluded that thromboplastin seems to be a useful marker for monocyte differentiation.

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